Improvement in low-water indicators for boilers



NFETERS. FHDTO-LITHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D CA tbttrd tant HIRAM K-IMBALL, OF RANDOLPH, VERMONT.

y Letters Patent No. 90,853, dated June l, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN LOW-WATER INDICATORS FOR BOILERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HRAM KIMBALL, of Randolph, in the county of Orange, and State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Safety-Attachment for Steam-Generators; and that the following is a suiciently full and exact description thereof, to enable one skilled in the art to which my said invention appertaius, to carryit into effect, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part of this specification.

My device consists essentially of a water-chamber, or reservoir, located externally of the boiler, above the Y water-line, and communicating with the interior of the boiler through a pipe, at the lowest level to whichA the water iu the boiler can properly be allowed to dcy scend.

The elevated chamber contains a buoyant cylinder, to the upper part of which is attached a valve, closing a port which communicates with the atmosphere, so that so long as the wat-er in the boiler is at a proper height, the pressure of steam, keeping the elevated reservoir full or partially fullof water, will cause the valve to be pressed against its seat, but the instant the water descends below a proper level, the water will run from the'elevated reservoir, and its place will be supplied by steam, permitting the cylinder to descend byl its gravity, so that the port will be opened and steam discharged therethrough, sounding a whistle, or other alarm, which cannot be stopped until the boiler receives a proper supply of water.

The apparatus may be attached to a boiler of any description, in any convenient position to effect the purpose stated.

In the drawings- Figure 1 represents a vertical section of my apparatns, illustrating its application to the side of a horizontal boiler.

Figures 2 and 3 are elevations, showing it in its application to the side of a vertical boiler and the end ot' a horizontal boiler, the boilers being represented in section to show the height of water.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

A may represent a boiler, of any construction, to which au external chamber, or reservoir, B, is con- .nected by a pipe, l), communicating with the interior` the boiler is maintained at a proper level, that isl to say, above the opening of the pipe P,tlie steam-pressure will keep the reservoir B constantly full of water, andthe aperture It closed; but if 4the surfaceof Water within the boiler descends belowthe opening of the pipe P, the water within the reservoir will instantly descend into the boiler, and steam taking its place will permit the cylinder F to fall, the eiect of which is to withdraw the valve G from its seat H, and cause a discharge of steam through the aperture h, so as to sound a whistle, I, or any other alarm which may be provided.

As the interior of the reservoir is inaccessible to the engineer, the alarm will continue. until a proper quantity of water is again supplied to the boiler, but as soon as the surface of the water rises above the mouth of the pipe P, water will `be forced up into the chamber, taking the place of the steam therein, and causing the aperture h to be closed, as before.

In practice, the buoyant cylinder should be made of as large size as the capacityy of the reservoir will properly permit.

The reservoir can be made of any capacity to receive a buoy of necessary size and power, and can readily be connected to any boiler by tapping a hole through the end or side thereof, for the reception of the pipe P. Y

The buoyant cylinder differs in eiect from an ordinary oat, in that it is wholly submerged, so that the entire force of its flotation or displacement may be used.

It is proposed to use two of the attachments connecting with the boiler at different heights, one to serv as an indicator in ordinary pumping, the other to indicate if the water is dangerously low.

The apparatus cannot be tampered with or controlled by the engineer.

While the boiler is under pressure, the alarm must continue until water is supplied to a proper level.

It is simple, and cheap of construction, and certain in its operation, and in the event of leaking ofthe buoy, or any other derangement, the effect will be to 'open the discharge-oriiioe, and thus indicate that attention is required, instead ot' leaving it closed, as is the cifect of some apparatus devised for the same general purpose. g

Having thus described my invention,

WVhat I claim as new, anddesire to sec-ure by Letters Patent, is-

Ihe combined arrangement of the elevated chamber B, buoyant cylinder F, valve G, and connectingpipe P, substantially as herein set forth.

' HIRAM KIMBALL.

"Witnesses: OGTAVIUS KN1GBT, WM. H. BRERETON, J r. 

